News and stories from Powersports racing in the United States.
Road 2 Recovery (R2R), the official charity of the Pro Motocross Championship, is thrilled to announce that the highly anticipated Brian Barnes’ Moto Museum Collection Auction kicks off in conjunction with the opening round of the 2023 Pro Motocross Championship, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, the KTM Fox Raceway National. This unprecedented two-part auction is set to make history with more than 340 exceptional and exclusive items up for grabs, ranging from race-worn and autographed jerseys of once-in-a-lifetime significance to a few “buy it now” pieces for the casual fan or novice collector. The scale of this auction is unparalleled, thanks to the exceptional generosity of Brian Barnes, the legendary former public address announcer for Washougal MX Park, who has graciously donated his entire Moto Museum Collection in support R2R’s mission to contribute to the betterment of the motocross community.
The Brian Barnes Moto Museum Collection represents the single-largest memorabilia donation to Road 2 Recovery in the non-profit’s history, which will make these auctions groundbreaking events. Due to the sheer magnitude of the items available, the inventory is divided into two online auctions, both available exclusively on MXLocker.com. The first Auction begins May 27 and will run for seven days. The second will launch on Saturday, July 22, coinciding with the MotoSport.com Washougal National, and will feature items of historic significance linked to the iconic racetrack.
Barnes, who has become one of the industry’s most beloved figures over the past 40 years, is the benefactor behind this momentous donation and auction. His profound contributions to the sport as an event presenter, announcer, and assistant to the Washougal owners have left an indelible mark on American motocross.
“I would like to thank all of the individuals and riders who contributed to this collection over the years. The memories associated with them helped me enjoy a dream career,” said Barnes. “These auctioned items will assist injured riders in need and there’s no one better to make sure they receive the support they deserve than Road 2 Recovery. Please give generously. Thank you to all the amazing and selfless members our industry and our incredibly loyal fans who are always willing to lend their support to a worthwhile cause.”
In honor of Brian’s contributions and the provenance of this exceptional collection, Road 2 Recovery is creating a digital museum showcasing his collection. This virtual showcase will launch on Road2Recovery.com starting Tuesday, May 30. Each item in the collection will be digitally displayed with detailed historical significance. For the first time, fans can view the collection online, learn about Brian’s enduring passion for the sport, and delve into the rich history of each piece in this remarkable collection.
Road 2 Recovery expresses its deep gratitude for Brian’s astonishingly generous donation. This unprecedented contribution will significantly impact the support provided to injured athletes.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to own a piece of motocross history. To review all the items and place your bids, go to MXLocker.com. It’s more than just an auction; it’s a chance to be part of the legacy!
The 2023 Pro Motocross Championship will get underway Saturday, May 25, in Southern California with the KTM Fox Raceway National. Coverage from Pala will be streamed live exclusively on Peacock, starting with Race Day Live at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET and followed by all four motos across the 450 Class and 250 Class, beginning at 1 p.m. PT / 4 p.m. ET.
Jared Mees (No. 1 Indian Motorcycle/Rogers Racing/SDI Racing FTR750) earned his 25th-career Grand National Championship Mile victory in split-second fashion in Saturday night’s Red Mile presented by Indian Motorcycle of Lexington at the Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky.
The triumph proved to be the latest round in a season of Progressive American Flat Track, sanctioned by AMA Pro Racing, that has taken shape as a heavyweight title fight between reigning Mission SuperTwins presented by S&S Cycle champ Mees and his ascending challenger, points leader Dallas Daniels (No. 32 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT).
The two broke free from the start and spent the next 14 minutes plus two laps testing each other in preparation for the decisive final lap. The cagey Mees sat in tight formation behind his young rival during the waning laps before finally striking as the two sprinted into Turn 3 for the final time.
He then struck and, despite suffering a couple small slides on exit, had the steam to hold on to the checkered flag by a minuscule 0.042 seconds.
The victory was Mees’ fifth in six attempts at the Red Mile. It also saw him join legends Bubba Shobert and Bryan Smith for third all-time in career Mile wins.
Mees said, “We were playing cat-and-mouse a little bit, and he was definitely strong in some areas…I just knew what I wanted to do there on the last lap and made it work, really. It’s good to win those Miles like old school where it’s there right at the line.”
For Daniels, it was the fourth time this season he’s finished a close second to Mees. But any sense of frustration that may have otherwise started to creep in was overcome by the reality that he continues to hold the points advantage due to a season-long run of firsts and seconds that he kept intact.
The fight for third was a spirited four-way affair, involving Briar Bauman (No. 3 Parts Plus/Jacob Companies KTM 790 Duke), Davis Fisher (No. 67 Rackley Racing/Bob Lanphere’s BMC Racing Indian FTR750), JD Beach (No. 95 Estenson Racing Yamaha MT-07 DT), and Jarod Vanderkooi (No. 20 JMC Motorsports/Fairway Ford Indian FTR750).
Bauman again showed off an ideal pace nearly on par with that of Mees and Daniels when everything worked just perfectly aboard an unruly machine that made that perfection impossible to attain with any consistency. Still, its impressive motor provided him with the tools necessary to secure a third podium of 2023 with Beach fractionally behind in fourth, followed by Fisher and Vanderkooi.
Kolby Carlile (No. 36 G&G Racing/Yamaha Racing Yamaha MT-07), who ran third on the opening laps, rebounded from an early mistake to overhaul Brandon Robinson (No. 44 Mission Roof Systems Indian FTR750) for seventh by 0.050 seconds at the stripe.
Jeffery Lowrey (No. 223 Lowery Racing/Gray Hogs Yamaha MT-07) and Bronson Bauman (No. 37 Fastrack Racing/2 Wheelz KTM 790 Duke) completed the top ten.
While Mees chipped off another four points, Daniels still boasts a 16-point advantage (180-164). Third-ranked Beach is nearly two full races back of first at 131.
Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER
Trent Lowe (No. 48 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) added more evidence to support the old racing adage that a rider’s second win comes a whole lot easier than their first with a triumphant run in Saturday’s Parts Unlimited AFT Singles presented by KICKER pack war.
A seesawing battle that expanded to a nine-rider lead pack as the pivotal final two laps opened, the race for the win appeared almost certain to be decided amongst Turner Honda teammates Lowe and Chase Saathoff (No. 88 American Honda/Mission Foods CRF450R) and the Estenson Racing Yamaha duo of Tom Drane (No. 59 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F) and Trevor Brunner (No. 21 Estenson Racing Yamaha YZ450F).
Sacramento winner Drane looked like the odds-on favorite due to his optimal blend of high-speed chops, low-pro aerodynamics, ultra-light weight, and big-time horsepower. However – despite repeatedly demonstrating the capacity to blast up to first from three or four positions back seemingly at will – the Aussie’s last-lap strategy was blown up by a lapped rider as the huge lead group dove into Turn 3 for the final time.
As a result, Drane could finish no better than third with Lowe and Saathoff handing Honda a hard-earned 1-2.
Whether or not Drane might have been able to run the Hondas down with a cleaner run is as impossible to guess as it is irrelevant at this point. Ultimately, Lowe put himself in the perfect position to capitalize in the chaos and scoop his second-career victory.
“It feels so great to come out on top,” Lowe said. “I knew I had to keep my corner speed up and that was the one thing I had going for me. Leading and going into (Turn) 3 was definitely my best option. I’m happy for the whole Turner Racing team. Everyone has put in so much effort. It’s unreal to think about the time that people put in and the dedication that they have.”
Brunner finished just 0.057 seconds back off his teammate but once again came up just short of the podium He was followed home by Red Bull KTM teammates Max Whale (No. 18 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) and Kody Kopp (No. 1 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 450 SX-F) – Kopp closing in from a distant ninth to make himself a factor late.
Kopp continues to lead in his title defense with 151 points to his credit. However, Dalton Gauthier (No. 79 D&D Racing/Certified KTM 450 SX-F) was shuffled back to seventh in the melee, a development that allowed Saathoff to join him level at 136 points. Whale is fourth at 130, followed by Brunner (123), Lowe (117), and Drane (105).
Team Honda HRC began the 2023 AMA Pro Motocross series the same way they finished the AMA Supercross series two weeks earlier—unbeatable. The Fox Raceway National in Pala, California, saw the team top both classes, with Jett Lawrence posting a flawless 1-1 moto tally in his AMA premier-class debut and brother Hunter Lawrence going 3-1 for the 250 overall win. It was the first time that two brothers have both scored overall wins on the same day. Meanwhile, newly crowned AMA Supercross Champion Chase Sexton was a solid second overall in the 450 division, and Chance Hymas overcame crashes to finish 12th overall in the 250 class during his fulltime pro debut.
The CRF450RWE of Jett Lawrence exited turn 1 ahead of the pack in moto 1, and the young Australian set sail. Having suffered a practice crash earlier in the day, Sexton was fourth off the start. He quickly got by Cooper Webb and then—a couple of minutes before the midway point—Dylan Ferrandis, but the 10-second gap to the front was too much to overcome. Lawrence nailed the holeshot again in the second outing, but Sexton was up to second place by the completion of lap 1. The Illinois native hounded his teammate for the entire moto but wasn’t ultimately able to attempt a safe pass on the slippery and choppy track. In the end, the difference was just one second.
Hunter Lawrence didn’t get a great start in the first moto of the year, completing lap 1 in 10th place, but he went to work advancing through the pack. It took him some time to get going, but despite riding in pain in his ribs due to a weekday training crash, he was in the top five by the midway point, then up to fourth a lap later. He continued to push, and he made a last-lap pass to take third. Hymas was 17th after one lap, quickly climbed a few spots, then fell and had to recover. With three laps left, he moved into 15th, and that’s where he would finish. Lawrence made life easier on himself in moto 2 by being first across the holeshot line on his CRF250R, and he was never really challenged on his way to an eight-second win. Hymas ran in the top five for the first half of the race, but a tip-over contributed to him finishing an eventual 12th.
NOTES
450 Overall Results
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450 Championship Points (after 1 of 11 rounds)
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250 Overall Results
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250 Championship Points (after 1 of 11 rounds)
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The highly anticipated Round 1 of the Pro Motocross Championship held at Fox Raceway welcomed racers and fans with mild temperatures of overcast morning skies, transitioning to partly cloudy blue skies in the afternoon in Pala, California. Fans were treated to an extraordinary display of skill and determination by MonsterEnergy® Kawasakirider Adam Cianciarulo as he made a dramatic comeback to a solid sixth place overall finish. MonsterEnergy®/Kawasaki/Pro Circuit riders Jo Shimoda, Ryder DiFrancesco, Jett Reynolds and Carson Mumford fought hard and finished 4-6 for a seventh overall, 11-8 for a 10th overall, 9-13 for 11th overall and 12-16 for a 14th overall, respectively.
In the overcast morning qualifying sessions, Cianciarulo came out motivated and qualified with a time of 2:23.251, securing the third place position on the starting grid for Moto 1.
In Moto 1, Cianciarulo began his Pro Motocross series with a respectable seventh place start, faced with the typical challenges of a brutally rough and rutted Pro Motocross track. Unfazed by the conditions, Cianciarulo remained consistent and smooth throughout the moto. The No.9’s focused efforts paid off as he finished the race in an impressive sixth place.
In Moto 2 the sun began to shine and the track was drying out. Cianciarulo started in sixth place but made a crucial mistake in the second turn of the race that sent him back to 29th place. Undeterred, the No. 9 put his head down and began a determined effort to make up lost ground on his KX™450SR. With each passing lap, he relentlessly clicked off competitors, steadily moving up through the pack. Through sheer grit and determination, Cianciarulo found himself in the top 15 after a few laps. His relentless pursuit continued as he worked his way into the top 10, capping his remarkable comeback with an impressive display of perseverance, Cianciarulo finished the race in seventh place.
“This race was good for me and my Kawasaki KX™450SR. Pala isn’t my favorite track, it’s a bit choppy and rough which gets difficult but I’m trying my best every lap and controlling what I can control. It is a decent start to the Pro Motocross season and we are going to keep improving and building each round.”
- Adam Cianciarulo
Shimoda showcased his skill on the track, qualifying with a time of 2:23.804, earning him the fifth pick on the starting grid for Moto 1 while teammates DiFrancesco secured 10th (2:24.532), Mumford 15th (2:25.492), and Reynolds displayed his potential as a rookie, qualifying with a time of 2:25.778, securing the 17th place position on the starting grid.
The No. 30 of Shimoda lit a fire in Moto 1, grabbing the early lead of the moto and engaging in an intense battle on his KX™250, while his Monster Energy/Pro Circuit/Kawasaki teammates all battled for top 10 positions early on. Despite a mistake that initially sent him back to fifth place, Shimoda gradually made his way up to fourth place where he finished. DiFrancesco exhibited remarkable consistency throughout Moto 1, steadily moving up the ranks and securing an impressive seventh place finish. Mumford maintained a strong position in Moto 1, holding 11th place and showcasing his competitive spirit and ability to contend with the best riders in the field. Jett Reynolds, in his first professional race, exhibited his potential by finishing in 12th place in Moto 1, demonstrating his skill on track as a rookie.
Shimoda got off to another strong start in Moto 2, securing third place as the race began. However, a detrimental error sent him back to 20th place. Keeping his composure, Shimoda's determination propelled him to make impressive moves through the pack, eventually finishing the race in a remarkable sixth place. Mumford steadily made-up ground in Moto 2, battling his way through the field to a strong eighth place position for 10th overall. DiFrancesco maintained his position in the top 10 throughout the first half of Moto 2 but would finish 13th and 11th overall. Reynolds continued to impress in Moto 2, maintaining his focus and determination as he competed against experienced riders. Despite the challenges, Reynolds showcased his potential and finished the race in a commendable position, 16th in Moto 2 and 14th overall in his pro debut.
“This was an okay start to the season. I made some mistakes that kept me off the podium, but I know the speed is there to be up front. We will keep pushing and getting better each round and I’m determined to get my KX™250 on the box.”
- Jo Shimoda
“Overall, I’m super happy with how Round 1 went. I felt good on my KX™250, was consistent and made strides each time I rode. I had a great time battling with my teammates and am looking forward to more Pro Motocross races.”
- Carson Mumford
“I can’t be mad with how the race ended up. The track was brutal in Moto 2, but I am happy with my consistency throughout the day to bring home a solid overall position for my MonsterEnergy®/Kawasaki/Pro Circuit team. We will continue to get better and work our way up to the front of the pack.”
- Ryder DiFrancesco
“First Pro Motocross race is in the books and I’m super grateful for this opportunity with the MonsterEnergy®/Kawasaki/Pro Circuit team. I felt great on the bike but there are a lot of things I know I can improve on. We’re going to keep pushing and staying consistent but overall, I’m happy with how my pro debut went.”
- Jett Reynolds
With both 450 riders on the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team still on the mend, it was an all-250cc effort for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing Team as the series headed to Pala, California, for round one of the AMA Pro Motocross series. Fortunately, it was a three-rider effort, as Jalek Swoll returned to action after sitting out the Supercross season due to injury.
250 MX
When the gate dropped for the first moto, Jalek Swoll and RJ Hampshire quickly showed off their starting prowess, as well as the power of their Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing TeamFC250s, as they rounded the first turn in the top two spots. After running in second position for the first two laps, Hampshire took over the lead, which he held to the finish for the win.
Unfortunately, in moto two a pair of crashes early in the race had him at the very tail end of the field. But never being one to give up, RJ charged all the way to 11th, which combined with his win in the first moto win, gave him third overall on the day. "For the first round of the outdoors, I was so excited to come here and race,” said Hampshire. “It started off with a great start in the first moto. I've never felt like that out front where things felt that easy and I didn't really have to get out of my comfort zone. Coming into the second moto I was going to try and do the same thing and it's on me. I botched that start and was still kind of decent, but the second turn was mayhem and I ended up going down. I made up a bunch of passes right away, and then someone else got a little whiskey throttle and I clipped their rear tire going up the steep hill in the back. Then I had my work cut out for me. I was in last by quite a bit. I knew I had to put my head down and I was charging hard. I didn't know if I had a shot at the podium. I had another little crash near the end, but I'm pretty stoked on the whole day. I'm really happy with the bike, where we're at, our mentality. It's going to be a good year and I'm so damn proud of this team.”
After his first moto holeshot, Jalek Swoll had a crash that force him out of moto one, but despite he was able to return to score his first points of the season with a 20th-place finish in moto two.
“This was my first race back in pretty much a year, and it just felt good to get gate drops,” said Swoll. “Watching from the couch was not fun. Just being out here, 100 percent or not was the goal. The starts were pretty good. I was stoked about that and other than the first moto fall I feel today could have been really good. We'll get healed up, come back a little bit stronger, get some good motos under my belt, and start clicking off some goals this year. My confidence is still there. I feel like I can compete at the top level, so we'll take the starts and the little bit of momentum that was caught today to Hangtown.”
For rookie Talon Hawkins, this was his first crack at a Pro Motocross National, and he finished the day with a 20-17 score, and 19th overall.
“Round one was pretty good, and there's a lot of good to take from it,” said Hawkins. “I needed a better start in that first moto. I got the better start in the second moto, I just didn't ride the way I know how. We're going to work on that this next week and hopefully make something happen next weekend. I'm excited, and this was a good race for me to build off of as we head into the next rounds.“
Next Event (Round 2): June 3, 2023 – Prairie City SVRA in Rancho Cordova, Calif.
Round 1 Results: Fox Raceway
250 MX Results
1. Hunter Lawrence (Honda), 3-1 2. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha), 6-2 3. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 1-11 …
20. Talon Hawkins – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 20-17
21. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 40-20
450 MX Results
1. Jett Lawrence (Honda), 1-1 2. Chase Sexton (Honda), 2-2 3. Dylan Ferrandis (Yamaha), 3-3 …
35. Scott Meshey (Husqvarna) 28-37
250 MX Rider Point Standings 1. Hunter Lawrence – 45 points 2. Haiden Deegan – 37 points 3. RJ Hampshire – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing – 35 points
…
20. Talon Hawkins – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 5 points
21. Jalek Swoll – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 1 point
450 MX Rider Point Standings 1. Jett Lawrence – 50 points 2. Chase Sexton – 44 points 3. Dylan Ferrandis – 40 points
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing contender Ryder LeBlond has taken his TE 300i to a podium finish in Round 8 of the 2023 AMA U.S. Hard Enduro Series at the Shotgun Hard Scramble event in Sugarloaf, Pennsylvania, as teammate Colton Haaker claimed seventh position.
Comprising the notoriously gruelling Keystone Challenge, which featured both the Tough Like RORR and Shotgun Hard Scramble U.S Hard Enduro rounds, both Rockstar Energy Husqvarna team rider’s skills were on display across the two days of action.
LeBlond would take seventh position on the opening day of racing in Tamaqua before successfully navigating the extremely rocky terrain in Sugarloaf, battling for the lead on the opening lap before slotting into second position. It was there that LeBlond would remain, capping off a successful weekend of Hard Enduro competition.
“Just finished up with Shotgun enduro here in Pennsylvania," LeBlond reflected. "It was a long weekend for all of us with Tough Like RORR yesterday, so I was definitely feeling it at the start of today. Got in a good groove throughout the race – started out behind Trystan [Hart] and Cody [Webb], made the move on them early and then slotted into second. All in all, a good weekend, we made improvements, and stoked to come away with some good results.”
Rounds 3 and 4 of the championship concluded with sixth and seventh place results for Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Hakker across the Keystone Challenge, marking two consistent results to add to his 2023 campaign.
"It was a consistent weekend for us and definitely a tough one," commented Haaker. "To come out of here with a couple of top 10 results is a positive and we can continue to work forward from here."
For more information on the U.S. Hard Enduro Series, visit the official series website at www.ushardenduro.com.
Round 9: June 24 – Kellogg, Idaho
Overall Pro Results – Tough Like RORR
1. Trystan Hart (KTM)
2. Cody Webb (SHR)
3. Jonny Walker (BET)
…
6. Colton Haaker – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
7. Ryder LeBlond – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
Overall Pro Results – Shotgun
1. Trystan Hart (KTM)
2. Ryder LeBlond – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
3. Cody Webbb (SHR)
…
7. Colton Haaker – Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing
The 2023 AMA Supercross season proved rough on the Troy Lee Designs/Red Bull/GASGAS Factory Racing Team rider roster, so it was a two-rider all-250 effort that lined up for the opening round of the Pro Motocross Championship in Pala, California.
250 MX
After injuries earlier in the season, Michael Mosiman was back in the saddle of his MC 250F Factory Edition, but still in rebuilding mode. He scored a 19th in moto one and made some adjustments for moto two and came home with a tenth-place finish.
Michael Mosiman: “This was the first round for me after quite a long time off. It's been a lot of hard work to build back, and today was just another step in that process. I would have liked to finish better but there are some building steps and some things that we improved. We made big improvements to the bike in the second moto and I felt a lot more comfortable. That allowed me to put together clean laps. I'm excited for the future and to head to Hangtown and get after it.”
Caden’s first crack at the Pro Motocross series resulted in a pair of 18th-place moto finishes in an extremely stacked field.
Caden Braswell: "I'm super grateful for the opportunity. Pala was an amazing experience for my first Pro Motocross National. I'm absolutely thrilled to have done it with the Troy Lee Designs Red Bull GASGAS team. The team was amazing...super-hard working and encouraging. I'm disappointed in my results because I know the bike and I are capable of so much more. I'm going to keep my head up pulling into Hangtown and strive to do better."
Next Event (Round 2): June 3, 2023 – Prairie City SVRA in Rancho Cordova, Calif.
Results – 2023 AMA Pro Motocross Championship, Round 1
250 MX East – Main Event Results
1. Hunter Lawrence (Honda) 3-1; 2. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha) 6-2; 3. RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna) 1-11… 15. Michael Mosiman (GASGAS) 19-10; 19. Caden Braswell (GASGAS) 18-18; 28. Tyson Johnson (GASGAS) 26-28
450 MX
1. Jett Lawrence (Honda) 1-1; 2. Chase Sexton (Honda) 2-2; 3. Dylan Ferrandis (Yamaha) 3-3… 8. Jose Butron (GASGAS) 10-8; 9. Lorenzo Locurcio (GASGAS) 7-11; 19. Romain Pape (GASGAS) 23-16; 28. Jacob Runkles (GASGAS) 27-29; 36. Giacomo Redondi 29-38
Championship Standings – After 1 Round
250 MX
1. Hunter Lawrence (Honda) 45 points; 2. Haiden Deegan (Yamaha) 37 points; 3.RJ Hampshire (Husqvarna) 35 points … 15. Michael Mosiman (GASGAS) 13 points; 19. Caden Braswell (GASGAS) 6 points
450 MX
1. Jett Lawrence (Honda) 50 points; 2. Chase Sexton (Honda) 44 points; 3. Dylan Ferrandis (Yamaha) 40 … 8. Jose Butron (GASGAS) 24 points; 9. Lorenzo Locurcio (GASGAS) 24 points; 19. Romain Pape (GASGAS) 24 points
PALA, Calif. – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing commenced the 2023 Pro Motocross Championship in style at Round 1 of the season, with 450MX riders Aaron Plessinger and Cooper Webb opening the outdoors with a pair of top-five finishes, as 250MX teammates Tom Vialle and Maximus Vohland earned P4 and P6 overall.
Plessinger opened his campaign with sixth position in qualifying. A spirited ride in the first moto of the day saw him work his way into fourth, before experiencing a fall while challenging for a podium, which ended in a charge to fifth place by race's end. Moto two saw a battle between teammates, with Plessinger securing fourth this time out ahead of Webb, sealing fourth overall for the day. Aaron Plessinger: "It was an eventful day here, for sure. I was riding really good, but ended up going down twice in that first moto – I think Coop saw me five times and was probably wondering what I was doing. Went out in moto two and had a big battle with Dylan Ferrandis, probably should have executed a couple things better on my end to make a move, but stoked to come away with fourth and take the battle into Hangtown."
Making a welcome return to competition and Pro Motocross at the KTM Fox Raceway National following his series-ending injury in Supercross, Webb was quickly up to speed, riding to an impressive fourth-place result in the combined 450 Class qualifying sessions. Webb put in a convincing ride in the opening moto of the season, battling teammate Plessinger for the majority of the 30-minute plus two-lap affair, before powering his KTM 450 SX-F FACTORY EDITION into an eventual P4 finish. Webb would line up with confidence in the second moto, and landed a fifth-place result, placing him in fifth overall for the day. Cooper Webb: "This was very, very last minute to race here, obviously with the injury being the main reason. Together with the team we got things done and last week was the first 30-minute moto I’ve done since 2021, so prep hasn’t been ideal, but today was solid for me, and I was really happy with it. We showed some speed, showed some potential and are ready to give it another shake in Hangtown."
In 250MX, dual MX2 World Champion Vialle made his AMA Pro Motocross debut at Pala onboard the KTM 250 SX-F, with the Frenchman posting the 16th fastest time in qualifying at the Southern Californian venue. The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing contender would rebound in the opening moto of the day with seventh, before a strong start in the second moto saw him finish in third and claim fourth place overall for the event on debut. Tom Vialle: “It was a difficult start to the day with 16th in qualifying, though we made some changes to get more comfortable with the conditions. First moto, I made some more improvements, and could manage a seventh place in that moto. Second moto, we made positive changes and I felt way better, so was able to get third place. I'm pretty happy with the day and my first National, we made great progression throughout the day between myself and the team – I was a bit sick coming into this round, so overall I’m happy to start my season like this.” Vohland posted a quick time in qualifying that would see him finish the session in second position, before going on to back that up in the first moto of the season, taking second place. A fall on the first lap of moto two saw him buried in the pack, though the number 34 would charge all moto long, and finish with ninth-place. Combining his scorecard across the day, Vohland delivered a solid P6 overall to begin his season. Maximus Vohland: "Pretty happy with today. It’s always an achievement to end up on the box, even if it was for a moto, so it’s another stepping stone for me. I was really looking to get on the podium overall today, but qualified well, was fast in the first moto, and second moto I felt really good, just a couple of mistakes cost me. I felt I had everything it took today, just tangling with the rider in moto two really hurt, but I’m stoked to be headed to my home race in Hangtown next week and we’ll fight for a podium."
SUGARLOAF, Pa. – FMF KTM Factory Racing's Trystan Hart continued his winning ways at one of the toughest weekends on the 2023 AMA U.S. Hard Enduro schedule, sweeping both rounds of racing at The Keystone Challenge in Pennsylvania.
Comprised of the Tough Like RORR and Shotgun Hard Scramble Hard Enduro rounds, which make up Rounds 3 and 4 of the championship, defending series champion Hart powered his FMF KTM Factory Racing KTM 300 XC-W to victory on the opening day of competition in Tamaqua, PA, with a total time of 3:26:53.
The series then shifted to Sugarloaf, where Hart continued his run of dominance as he conquered the rocky terrain, which presented as a huge test for the entire field, securing the round victory with a total time of 3:01:53.
This weekend marked Hart and FMF KTM Factory Racing's second year in succession sweeping both the Tamaqua and Sugarloaf AMA U.S. Hard Enduro rounds.
Trystan Hart: "We just finished up with day two of the Keystone Challenge here in Sugarloaf – a crazy race today with so many rocks! We all battled on lap one, and then I was able to break away on lap two, and could ride my own race from there. It was a really long weekend for all of us here – I think we’re all really tired – and definitely looking forward to a bit of rest this week, but we're obviously happy with the result!"
For more information on the U.S. Hard Enduro Series, visit the official series website at www.ushardenduro.com.
Pro Results – Tough Like RORR 1. Trystan Hart, KTM, 3:26:53 2. Cody Webb, Sherco, 3:34:29 3. Jonny Walker, Beta, 3:59:10 4. Will Riordan, KTM, 4:24:12
Pro Results – Shotgun Hard Scramble 1. Trystan Hart, KTM, 3:01:53 2. Ryder LeBlond, Husqvarna, 3:07:19 3. Cody Webb, Sherco, 3:11:59 OTHER KTM 5. Will Riordan, KTM, 3:22:57
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Red Bull KTM Factory Racing duo Kody Kopp and Max Whale charged hard at Round 8 of the 2023 American Flat Track Championship, with Whale finishing in fifth position and Kopp sixth in the AFT Singles Main Event. That result allowed defending champion Kopp extended his points lead to 15 following The Red Mile in Kentucky.
After qualifying in ninth, Kopp powered his KTM 450 SX-F to a fourth-place finish in the second Heat race of the event, with his sights set on the night's Main Event. A challenging 18-lap affair saw Kopp cross the line in sixth position, while managing to extend his lead in the AFT Singles series in the process. Kody Kopp: "Had an up and down day here in Kentucky, struggled with a few things during the weekend, but as a team we worked hard together to try our best and we ended up with a sixth place. Considering where I was with seven laps to go, sixth is a positive – just need to keep chipping away and work hard over the three-week break." Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammate Whale finished qualifying in third position, before crossing the finish line in second place for the opening Heat race of the event, earning a place in the Dash-for-Cash, where the Australian would finish in P4. A measured ride in the Main Event resulted in a fifth-place result, which has the number 18 sitting fourth in the standings with 10 rounds remaining.
Max Whale: "We made huge improvements here for the Kentucky Red Mile. We worked super-hard in the week and a half off, and I can’t thank the team enough for all the work they do. Started out today on the back foot, but we came through with third in qualifying, second in the Heat, and made it through to the Dash, which is great for extra track time. Then ended up with fifth in the Main after a few mistakes on my end, but I'm happy with the progress we’ve made, and we’ll come out swinging in a few weeks.” Next Race: DuQuoin Mile – Du Quoin, Illinois – June 17, 2023 Round 8 Results AFT Singles Main Event 1. Trent Lowe, Honda 2. Chase Saathoff, Honda 3. Tom Drane, Yamaha OTHER KTM 5. Max Whale, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 6. Kody Kopp, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing 7. Dalton Gauthier, KTM 13. Landen Smith, KTM 14. Shayna Texter-Bauman, KTM 15. Travis Petton IV, KTM 18. Declan Bender, KTM 19. Logan Eisenhard, KTM 2023 AFT Singles Point Standings 1. Kody Kopp, 151 points 2. Dalton Gauthier, 136 3. Chase Saathoff, 136 4. Max Whale, 130 OTHER KTM 11. Justin Jones, 52 12. Shayna Texter-Bauman, 40 13. Travis Petton IV, 40 16. Logan Eisenhard, 28 22. Hunter Bauer, 16 23. Hayden Gillim, 14 24. Landen Smith, 11 25. Declan Bender, 10 26. Clarke Morian V, 10 27. Tanner Dean, 9 32. Olin Kissler, 4
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Dylan Ferrandis returned racing to enjoy a podium finish at yesterday’s opening round of the Pro Motocross Championship at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. As expected, the track showcased a fast and rutted terrain, but the Frenchman quickly found his form in his first race back and collected two third-place finishes to round out the podium in third overall.
Ferrandis holds a special place for the track where he earned both of his Pro Motocross titles – the 2020 250MX and 2021 450MX Championships. While he has had a limited amount of time on the bike to get comfortable for the outdoor style of racing after coming back from injury, the multi-time champ didn’t show it on the track. After qualifying fifth to start the day, Ferrandis launched out of the start in the opening moto to quickly find second after the first few turns. He moved back to third on Lap 7, but Ferrandis maintained a strong pace to hold off any charges from behind to secure third. He had another good start in Moto 2 and ended up riding in third from start to finish, putting Ferrandis and his Yamaha YZ450F on the podium in third overall.
The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team will travel to Northern California for the Hangtown Classic for Round 2 of the Pro Motocross Championship and the 19th round of the SuperMotocross World Championship in Rancho Cordova outside Sacramento.
Dylan Ferrandis Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing “It is always good to end up on the podium, and I didn’t really expect that. During qualifying, I was struggling a little bit with the bike with the new chassis. I wanted to be a little bit more comfortable, and that’s what we worked on all day. The bike kept getting better session after session. If anyone had told me I would have finished on the podium at the first round, I would have told them they were dreaming. Everybody worked really hard, so it was good to give them back something with a podium and get some good points.”
Jeremy Coker Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing “ I don’t think it could have gone any better with the short period of time Dylan had to get ready. For him to come out and go 3-3, it’s great for the team, and we’ll keep building from here to get better every weekend.”
Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing’s Haiden Deegan captured his first career 250MX podium at the opening round of the Pro Motocross Championship at Fox Raceway in Pala, California. After a decent opening moto in sixth, the rookie earned his first career moto podium in second, which propelled him to second overall (6-2). Teammate Justin Cooper battled back from a tough second moto start to ride to fifth overall (5-4), while new addition Guillem Farres had a good first showing in eighth overall (8-5). Levi Kitchen put another Yamaha YZ250F into the top 10 with his ninth-place performance (10-7). Jordon Smith shook off a few cobwebs from his four-year hiatus of riding outdoors, collecting 13th overall with a 13-14 moto result.
Coming off his Rookie of the Year campaign in Monster Energy AMA Supercross, Deegan took that momentum and brought it to the outdoors. He qualified sixth to start the day and readied himself for the longer 30-minute-plus-two-lap format. At the Moto 1 gate drop, he squeezed inside the top 10 but made a mistake on Lap 2 that sent him to the ground and back to 14th. He quickly remounted and pushed his way to the front, making it up to sixth by the checkered flag. For the second moto, Deegan had his start dialed and filed into third on the opening lap. He maintained the speed with the front pack for most of the moto and took over second when a rider went down on Lap 9. The Californian kept pace and finished five seconds ahead of third at the finish to secure second overall, much to the delight of the home crowd.
Cooper found himself in familiar territory as the top qualifier in the morning practice sessions. He had a solid start in eighth but wasn’t able to make it through as quickly as he would have liked, ending the first race in fifth. The New Yorker aimed for a better start in the second moto, but with riders going down around him in the opening turn, he was pushed back to 20th. Undeterred, he put in a hard charge to the front, making an impressive run to fourth - giving Cooper a top-five finish overall.
Farres returned to the team after making a brief appearance in 2022 with two impressive runs late in the season as a fill-in. The Spaniard looked comfortable in California’s rutted and rough Fox Raceway, starting the day ninth in qualifying. In the opening moto, he didn’t get going as he’d hoped and was 16th. Farres used the entire moto to make up as much ground as possible, finishing eighth. He got a much better start in Moto 2, coming around in fourth after the first lap. Farres was shuffled to fifth but maintained good speed and was able to hold on to the finish, scoring eighth overall.
Kitchen was coming off an impressive double podium finish to the Monster Energy AMA Supercross season and was eager to run up front at the opening round of the Pro Motocross Championship. He qualified with one of his best results in fourth, but unfortunately, starting outside the top 10 hindered the result he was looking for. In the opening moto, Kitchen started 13th and moved his YZ250F into the top 10 before the end of the race. The second moto was slightly better off the start in 11th, with Kitchen making up additional ground to finish the race in seventh for ninth overall.
The gate drop for Smith had been a long time coming, with his last motocross race being almost exactly four years to the day on June 1, 2019. He worked his way into comfort in the qualifying sessions, where he logged the 13th-fastest time. Smith found himself in 12th off the start in the opening moto and ultimately finished 13th. In the second moto, he would have to work hard to make up position after starting 17th, but he found his way by several riders to end the day 14th for 13th overall.
The Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing team heads north to Rancho Cordova, California, outside Sacramento for the Hangtown Classic on Saturday, June 3, for Round 2 of the Pro Motocross Championship and the 19th round of the SuperMotocross World Championship.
Haiden Deegan Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing “Today was definitely a good day. I didn’t have a great start in the first moto, so I was pushing and was in about eighth when I hit someone and fell. I got back up to sixth. I knew I had the speed, so in the second moto, I had a better start and made my way up to second and just rode smooth for second overall. It was a great way to start off the season.”
Justin Cooper Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing “It was a good day, overall. I just had bad starts, but I felt good on the bike. The second moto was pretty good for me. I went from 20th and got up to fourth. I was working to try and get those guys at the end but came up a little short after expending a lot of energy to get to the front. We’ll take it. We’ve just got to be better off the gate so we can fight for the win.”
Guillem Farres Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing “I’m really happy with my first race. I ended up going eighth overall and had a fifth in the second moto. It’s my first race in a while, so it was a pretty good day, and I want to keep building from here.”
Levi Kitchen Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing “The day started well with the best qualifying I think I’ve ever had. But the story of my life today was bad starts in both motos. I fell that first moto but felt like I had good speed. The second moto was another bad start, but then I never really felt like I had good speed in that one. We’re going to put our heads down and focus on next weekend.”
Jordon Smith Monster Energy Yamaha Star Racing “It was good to get back racing outdoors. It’s been four years since I’ve raced one. It was a good learning day. I didn’t end up where I wanted to be, but we learned a lot. Overall, I had a lot of fun out there, and I’m ready to continue building throughout the season.”
